strum
Simultaneous stroking of several strings. A fixed sequence of strums is called strum pattern. The following strums are diffentiated:
 |  |  | meaning |
|---|
Upstroke
| Aufschlag | upstroke | アップ・ストローク | The strumming hand moves upwards (towards the fourth string) and effects all strings one after another. |
Downstroke
| Abschlag | downstroke | ダウン・ストローク | The strumming hand moves downwards (towards the first string) and effects all strings one after another. |
Silent stroke
| Luftschlag aufwärts | silent upstroke | The strumming hand moves upwards (towards the fourth string) without touching any strings. | |
| Luftschlag abwärts | silent downstroke | The strumming hand moves downwards (towards the first string) without touching any strings. |
Strumming technique
Index finger
The index finger strokes the strings. Often, the summit of the thumb is placed on the last member of the index finger, or the thumb is splayed at right angles. This allows fast and dynamically variable beating. The up and down movement is done by turning the wrist.
Thumb
The thumb strokes the strings; on impact the fingernail touches the strings. This creates a softer sound than the index finger, which is especially popular with Hawaiian music. However, this technique leads to losses in speed and volume.
Index finger and thumb
The index finger carries out the downward stroke, the thumb the upward stroke (or vice versa). From this technique, the roll can easily be developed in which first the index finger beats downwards, then the thumb and immediately thereafter the index finger upwards. In this way, the impact speed can be increased considerably. Cf. rasgueado.